Herefordshire

Herefordshire's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and health.

The population passed 180,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Herefordshire increased by 4.9%, from almost 175,000 to 183,000.

The addition of just over 8,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Herefordshire was home to, on average, 0.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the West Midlands' least densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Herefordshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Herefordshire increased by two years, from 42 to 44 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than the West Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 5,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 4,000.

About 14% of people in Herefordshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Herefordshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Herefordshire

Herefordshire saw the West Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (89%) in Herefordshire reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 90% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.9% to 3.6%.

Across the region, Malvern Hills saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 89% in 2001 to 87% in 2011).

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

Herefordshire saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 to 74 in Herefordshire said they were employed, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 3.3%.

Across the region, Stoke-on-Trent saw the next largest increase in the proportion of employed people (from 49% in 2001 to 50% in 2011).

During this period, Herefordshire fell below four local authority areas, including Walsall and Malvern Hills, to become the West Midlands local authority area with the eighth-lowest percentage of employed people.

The rate of employment was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Herefordshire, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.2% to 8.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in three (36%) households had a married couple, compared with 39% in 2001. The percentage of households in Herefordshire, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.8% to 9.5%.

The proportion of single-parent households decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the West Midlands. But despite the improvement, Herefordshire remained less healthy than the regional average 11% in the West Midlands described their health as good in 2011).

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Herefordshire at a faster rate than in Malvern Hills (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Herefordshire).

In Herefordshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Malvern Hills increased from 8.6% to 12%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 7.3% to 14%.

The rate of social housing in Herefordshire fell from 15% to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71% to 68%.

Private renting in Herefordshire increased by 5.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Herefordshire, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Herefordshire

The percentage of adults in Herefordshire that were married decreased from 56% to 52% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 24% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Herefordshire that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 52% in 2001 to 48% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 51% to 47%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Herefordshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.3% to 5.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Herefordshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Herefordshire decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Herefordshire, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Herefordshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Herefordshire decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Herefordshire, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Herefordshire

The number of people in Herefordshire from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 170,000 in 2001 to about 180,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Herefordshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 550 in 2001 to about 1,400 in 2011 (from 0.3% to 0.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 700 to just under 1,300 (from 0.4% to 0.7%).

About 330 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 170 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Herefordshire remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Herefordshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Herefordshire residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.4% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 2.3% in 2001 to 2.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Herefordshire remained close to 2.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Herefordshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Herefordshire with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.0% to 9.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 28% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Herefordshire without children increased from 63% to 64%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 10% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Herefordshire

The number of people in Herefordshire that described themselves as Muslim increased from just over 170 in 2001 to about 360 in 2011. This represents a change from 0.1% to 0.2% of the local population.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from this religious group increased from 4.1% to 6.7%, while across England the percentage went from 3.2% to 5.2%.

The number of people in Herefordshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 140,000 in 2001 to about 120,000 in 2011 (from 79% to 68%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 22,000 to about 42,000 (from 13% to 23%).

Just over 15,000 people (7.7%) did not state their religion, up from just over 13,000 in 2001 (8.2%).

The population who identified as Muslim in Herefordshire remained close to 0.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Herefordshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links